BUS chiefs have sparked anger by axing the main non-stop service from Southampton to Portsmouth.

Angry passengers and councillors have slammed the controversial move by First Southampton, which comes just days after Woolston-based shipbuilder Vosper Thornycroft (VT) confirmed a move down the M27 to the naval base.

It will leave many commuters, including workers at the yard, stranded.

First Southampton plans to pull the plug on the X27 service on September 2 because it says not enough people use it.

But passengers say the options, which include a bus service via the Gosport ferry, will take too long or are too expensive.

It is the latest controversy over changes to the company's routes following last autumn's network review that sparked the Daily Echo's Bus Watch to reflect the public outcry.

Southampton transport boss Cllr Richard Williams said: "First Southampton only notified us at the same time as giving the traffic commissioners the mandatory 56-day notice period.

"I am extremely disappointed that it gave us no time to respond or to discuss it with them. We are looking at whether we can find an alternative commercial supplier for the fast route.

He added: "It is very popular in the mornings and evenings with commuters and I understand a petition has been launched."

Passenger Karen Linn, 37, who travels every day from her home in Southsea to work at Norwich Union in Southampton, said: "It is absolutely ludicrous to get rid of this route. If they only ran the service during rush-hour then so many people wouldn't be left in the lurch."

A First Southampton spokeswoman said it had given almost eight weeks notification of the service being terminated.